Samsung is beginning to roll out a security patch to UK Galaxy S3 phones, designed to clear up a bug in the S3’s Exynos chip that could potentially see some phones being wiped or bricked by naughty hackers. The sudden death bug, as it’s known, was found by an XDA Developers user and gives hackers …
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January, 2013
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3 January
Software update reportedly fixes Samsung’s Exynos security hole
Samsung has issued a software update to address a nasty vulnerability found in a handful of smartphones that allowed attackers access to user data and left the handset vulnerable to malicious apps and bricking. The vulnerability, which was discovered last month, lies in Exynos 4, the ARM-based system-on-a-chip typically found in Samsung smartphones and tablets. An exploit bypasses the system …
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3 January
Jelly Bean and Premium Suite coming to original Galaxy Note
Good news for anyone still using an original Samsung Galaxy Note. The big blower is about to get the same software update as the Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S3 — namely Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, as well as the Premium Suite upgrade. That should bring a host of new features to the handset. It’s good to see Samsung still …
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3 January
Samsung confirms Tizen
Samsung will, in fact, launch some Tizen-based smartphones this year, the company has confirmed. In a statement to CNET, a Samsung spokesperson said that the company plans “to unveil competitive Tizen devices within this year.” The person didn’t say how many devices would be offered, and failed to provide details on what sort of features those handsets might deliver. Those …
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3 January
Ubuntu comes to smart phones: What you need to know
If the world of smart phone software wasn’t crowded and confusing enough, another contender has entered the ring. Canonical has brought its Ubuntu software to mobiles, promising a clean interface and optimisation for lower-end hardware. Sounds promising, but with zero support from manufacturers so far, Ubuntu is going to have a fight on its hands to establish its place in …
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3 January
Nexus 4 serial numbers reveal nearly 400,000 built
A wonderful piece of crowdsleuthing by the fervent Android fans of the XDA forums has revealed how many Nexus 4s have been built. The astonishingly cheap phone was one of the most popular phones of 2012 — coming second in CNET UK readers’ Phone of the Year awards — but production shortages left many would-be buyers frustrated. So how many …
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3 January
Skype ‘temporarily’ disables People Hub in Windows Phone update
Skype has updated its Windows Phone application with some new features — and the loss of a key one. The company yesterday updated its app for Windows Phone 7.5 and Windows Phone 8 with a preview release. Skype was quick to point out that the “experiences are not yet final,” adding that some features “are work-in-progress and may not function …
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3 January
Ofcom plan aims to let you cancel your phone contract early
New rules proposed by telecoms industry regulator Ofcom will hopefully allow you to duck out of your phone contract early if your network hoiks up the price, without you having to pay a penalty fee. Currently, if you’re on a fixed-term phone contract and your operator decides to ramp up its prices (as Orange, T-Mobile and O2 have done in …
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3 January
Android Jelly Bean gains, Gingerbread seeing a slow fade
The latest version of Android is now sitting on about 10 percent of all Android devices, while Gingerbread dropped below 50 percent, according to the latest numbers from Google. Jelly Bean — that is, Android 4.1 and 4.2 — is up in the two weeks ending January 3, though it’s Android 4.1 that’s made most of the gains (see chart …
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3 January
Fujitsu’s OAP
Fujitsu will release an Android phone for older people here in the UK. The Raku-Raku phone is designed for those getting on in years, with larger fonts and a simplified interface. It’s so far only been available in Japan, but will soon make it to the US and Europe, Asahi Shimbun reports, via The Verge. Those lucky pensioners will get …
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